Feeling that you’re ready for detox is a remarkable push forward toward a better life. For your first steps into sobriety, it’s important to involve the right professionals to help you achieve your goals. While an alcohol detox at home may seem like a viable option, there are many dangers in handling this critical phase without professional help. Self-detox or going cold turkey is rarely effective. Too often, individuals who elect to detox at home discover it leads to many problems, the biggest of which are relapse and death.
Why Supervised Detox Is Better than Alcohol Detox at Home
You may believe that your drug or alcohol abuse has been a personal choice, meaning you can quit through alcohol detox at home at any time on your own. But when you consider your recent past of addiction with clarity, ask yourself one question: If you can stop on your own, why haven’t you already?
In reality, experiencing withdrawal or even basic anxiety over stopping your substance use means that you are physically dependent. This is the very definition of addiction. Addiction requires professional guidance and support, just as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or cancer require medical help for the hope of a healthy future.
Withdrawal is often dangerous. While many drugs can be overcome without the dangerous side effects of detox, other dangers can be triggered by even slight side effects. As examples:
- Choking on vomit, a form of asphyxiation
- Stopped breathing
- Cardiac arrest
- Hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature
- Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar leading to seizures
- Severe dehydration that can cause seizures, brain damage, and death
- Suicidal notions from the mental and emotional stress of detox or underlying conditions
Symptoms That Supervised Detox Can Treat But Alcohol Detox at Home Can’t
Supervised detox provides a level of support and comfort that patients can’t receive in their home environment. Professionally licensed staff can ease the side effects of withdrawal 24/7. This is often a substantial workload that family members and other loved ones can’t provide at home.
Symptoms of withdrawal from addiction can vary according to the substances long used. Some symptoms may require medical help through medication management. A quality detox center can provide these medications as necessary without the risk of secondary overuse. Medical detox also ensures patients remain well hydrated and nutritionally supported toward more comfortable cleansing of their bodies.
Some of the symptoms that medical detox can help with include:
- Shakiness
- Anxiety
- Sleep issues
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Delirium tremens
- Hallucinations
- Heart failure
- Body pain
- Increased hunger
- Irritability
- Chills
- Severe depression
- Diarrhea
- Paranoia
- Intense cravings
- Suicidal thoughts
Serenity House Detox in Florida Provides Safe, Supervised Detox
Serenity House Detox is a Joint Commission-accredited and fully licensed detox program with two locations in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We provide patients going through withdrawal with the highest standard of support, care, guidance, and comfort during this important step into recovery. Not only do our medical professionals make sure clients are able to deal with their withdrawal symptoms in a safe, secure, and comfortable environment, we also offer therapeutic services. Our therapy programs help clients address the emotional and mental aspects of addiction so they can make a lasting recovery and reduce the risk of relapse. Some of the therapy programs we offer include:
- Group Therapy Program
- Individual Therapy Program
- Meditation Therapy Program
- Nutrition Therapy Program
- Talk Therapy Program
- Trauma Therapy
- Yoga Therapy
If you or your loved one are ready for recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, call Serenity House Detox at 866.294.5306. The help you need to start a new life in recovery is available now.
